Tragedy in Leicester: Stoneygate Shooting Sensation: Attempted Murder of a Girl: Young Man Kills Himself: Cyclist Seriously Wounded: A sensational tragedy took place in Leicester last night, as the result of which one man is lying dead, and another is at the Leicester Royal Infirmary in a critical condition. It appears that about ten o’clock a young man named Horace Pinsent, aged 19, who lived with his parents in the King’s Head public house, Burley’s Lane, was walking with a girl about his own age, or slightly older, on the London Road, near to Knighton Grange Road. The girl’s name is Ada White, and she lives in Bedford Street. They had a quarrel about something, and it is stated that the girl expressed her intention of not walking out with him anymore. Anyhow, the result was starting. Without any warning of his intention, Pinsent pulled a revolver out of his pocket and fired point blank at the girl from a distance of only about a yard or so. It is a marvelous thing that she was not killed; as it was, the bullet grazed her cheek, and passed through her hat. She screamed, and that and the noise of the shot, attracted the attention of people in the vicinity, of whom there were quite a number. What next happened is regrettable in the extreme. Mr. Herbert Hytch, a tailor, aged about 22, who lives with his parents at 45, Wood Hill, who was riding b on a bicycle, got off, but before he could do anything Pinsent shot at him, and the bullet struck him in the neck, inflicting a serious wound. PINSENT TAKES HIS LIFE. Two more shots followed in rapid succession, fortunately without hitting anyone else, and then Pinsent ran off in the direction of the town. He was followed, and when near Toller Road, apparently realizing the madness of his action, he turned the revolver on himself, and with the last cartridge in it shot himself through the head, placing the barrel in mouth. Death must have been instantaneous, as he was found within a very few seconds of the shot, his body lying in Toiler Road with the bead against the kerbstone. Meanwhile, Mr. J. E. Lester, who was driving his motorcar along the road close to where the shooting began, and saw that Mr. Hytch was severely injured — for he was lying where he had fallen, in a pool of blood — ascertained that Dr. Gibbons, of Knighton Grange Road, was the nearest doctor, and ran towards his house to summon him. Dr. Gibbous, however, had heard the shots, and met Mr. Lester on the way. Hurrying to the spot he saw at once that Mr. Hytch’s injuries could not be dealt with at his surgery, and the wounded man was lifted into Mr. Lester’s car, and with Dr. Gibbon accompanying him, was driven to Infirmary. POLICE ON THE SCENE. Mrs. Gibbons, at Mr. Lester’s request, rang up Knighton Police Station, and informed the police and Superintendent Sturgess and other officers were soon on the spot, while Mr. Lester, after leaving the patient at the Infirmary, drove to the Central Police Station and gave information. Mr. Herbert Allen (Chief Constable) and Superintendent Carson were both in the building, and Mr. Lester drove them up to the scene of the tragedy, passing, en route, by the way, Pinsent’s dead body, then lying in Toller Road. The girl, who was naturally in a very distressed condition, had been taken into a house near till she recovered, and then she was driven down to the Central Police Station to give any information she had about the matter. The body of Pinsent was removed to the mortuary in the Fire Brigade body van and there, shortly before midnight, it was identified by his father and brother. The Weapon: The revolver which the dead man used was of a fairly heavy pattern and had been loaded in five chambers all of which were discharged. The shots at the girl and Mr. Hytch would accoung for two of the cartridges, and probably the other shots fired numbered tow, although accounts differ as to whether it was two or three. This would leave the cartridge with which PINSENT COMMITTED SUICIDE. The weapon was found lying near to the body. In the usual course of the matter will be reported to the Borough Coroner, for an inquest to be held. EYE-WITNESS’S STORY: Mr. Lester, speaking to a “Daily Post ” representative, said the thing all happened in a few seconds. He was just driving by the couple on London Road when he heard the first shot. He stopped the car and turned around, and the girl came running and screaming towards him to get into the car and get away from the man. While she was screaming Mr. Hytch came up on his bicycle, and just as he had got off, and as he was holding it in front of him Pinsent shot at him, and he fell. The revolver was fired again, either twice or three times, and Pinsent ran away. The next thing was to get the doctor, and having got him, to take the injured man down to the infirmary. On inquiry at the Infirmary at one o’clock this morning we were informed that Mr. Hytch’s injuries were not as serious as at first feared.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive
Referenced
GRO0431 Tiverton: Horace Pinsent: 1893 – 1913